Bob Boilen at his Tiny Desk.
NPR
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NPR
Bob Boilen at his Tiny Desk.
NPR
I do not watch TV exhibits or films, however I fall in love simply with songs which have a very good story and 2021 was a 12 months stuffed with gripping tales by some good storytellers.
Lucy Dacus took us again to her highschool and trip bible college days on her album Residence Video. Her tune “Thumbs” was a painful story about revenge that was typically tough to listen to, however so skillfully executed. I wanted humor in 2021 too, and fortunately there was loads to be present in songs like “Again of My Hand,” a story of over-the-top fandom by Bachelor (a collaboration between Jay Som and Palehound) Tōth‘s “Flip Round (Cocaine Tune)” is the story of trumpeter Alex Tōth being requested to play Ave Maria at his aunt Mary’s funeral however as an alternative having his addictions overtaking him and passing out in pew. Moist Leg‘s “Chaise Longue” was the funniest rock tune about intercourse in a long time.
Moist Leg, a duo from the Isle of Wight who’ve put out simply 4 songs – all this 12 months – had been amongst quite a few new artists I fell passionately for in 2021. Olivia Rodrigo, Ada Lea, Charlie Hickey, Arooj Aftab, Aisha Badru, mehro, No-No Boy, lady in crimson, Orla Gartland, NEFFY (our 2021 Tiny Desk Contest winner), dodie, Pleasure Oladokun and Semler are among the others that made my 2021 listening so fulfilling.
So take the songs on this playlist for a spin. There’s a lot to find and share. And in a 12 months that was so robust for artists to make a dwelling, I urge you to help those you like.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. Lucy Dacus, Residence Video
2. Bachelor, Doomin’ Solar
3. Regular Vacation, Take the Corners Gently
4. Olivia Rodrigo, SOUR
5. Arooj Aftab, Vulture Prince
6. Tōth, You and Me and Every thing
7. Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine, A Newbie’s Thoughts
8. Cassandra Jenkins, An Overview on Phenomenal Nature
9. Jónsi, Obsidian
10. Ada Lea, one hand on the steering wheel the opposite stitching a backyard
TOP 10 SONGS
1. Moist Leg, “Chaise Longue”
2. Lucy Dacus, “Thumbs”
3. Cassandra Jenkins, “Exhausting Drive”
4. Bachelor (Jay Som & Palehound), “Again of My Hand”
5. Olivia Rodrigo, “Brutal”
6. Tōth, “Turnaround (Cocaine Tune)”
7. Arooj Aftab, “Suroor”
8. Saint Sister, “Manchester Air”
9. Aisha Badru, “Rebirth”
10. Charlie Hickey, “Ten Ft Tall”
* One tune lacking from streaming providers is by our 2021 Tiny Desk Contest winner NEFFY. This is “Wait Up.”
